Beach staircases open tomorrow

Encinitas Advocate:

Encinitas will expand the open areas of its beaches and allow people to use coastal access staircases starting Saturday, May 9, the City Council unanimously decided Wednesday, May 6.

One day earlier, on Friday morning, May 8, the city also will lift some restrictions on “active” recreation areas at city parks, permitting families to play basketball or tennis, but keeping the playgrounds, skatepark areas and pickleball courts closed due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus.

Science increasingly shows that outdoor transmission of covid-19 is rare.

Health experts say people are significantly less likely to get the coronavirus while outside, a fact that could add momentum to calls to reopen beaches and parks closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being outside shouldn’t be seen as completely safe, health experts say. People should continue to avoid crowds and maintain six feet of distance from others to keep away from the virus.

But experts are increasingly confident in evidence showing that the coronavirus spreads much more readily indoors than outdoors, a finding that could help guide policymakers seeking to figure out ways to end lockdowns that have shuttered much of the nation’s economy.